Douglas Dawson

Bank: National Provincial Bank

Place of work: Luton branch

Died: 24 March 1945

Douglas Wright Dawson was born on 8 December 1909, the son of Harriet and Samuel Horace Wright Dawson. He was educated at Glasgow Academy and Wellingborough School before joining the staff of National Provincial Bank as a probationer at its Newark branch in August 1927. He was promoted to junior clerk in November 1927, and to clerk in January 1930. He moved to Peterborough branch in 1931, to Leeds branch in 1934, and to Luton branch in 1936. His colleagues described him as a man of high ideals, sincere, outspoken and possessing a lively sense of humour.

On the outbreak of war in 1939, Dawson became one of the leading figures in civil defence duties in Dunstable. In July 1941 he left the bank to go on military service, joining the Royal Armoured Corps. Serjeant Dawson was killed in action in Germany on 24 March 1945. He was 36 years old and left a widow, Olive, and two young sons.